Tarptent Has A New 1P: The Bowfin

[Sam Farrington]

Franco,
Thanks for providing the info and corrections. After posting, it dawned that you might.
Still can’t get used to the idea of having a triangular extension on both sides of the tent floor. Yes, I know these extensions on some Tarptents can be pulled back and secured, making the floor pentagon or rectangular-shaped.

From the diagram, it looks to be a floor width of about 35″ in the middle if the front of tent floor were pulled back, which isn’t bad for a solo tent. I would prefer to have a rectangle 35″ wide for the entire floor of a solo tent, however. That leaves both the front and rear vestibules dedicated to storage, cooking or getting in and out.
The vestibules are needed to spill the wind and provide cover. Might as well use them for something.

[Franco Darioli]

The yellow rectangle is a 20″x72″ mat.

The dark grey area (20″ at the ends and 50″ in the middle) is the inner.

The light grey area is the fly. At the center the fly is 26″ away from the inner.

It can be seen in this photo :

although sometimes a single photo is not all that clear, so , for example, because of the angle the pole looks a lot steeper than it is.

So if you like most of your gear inside the inner it will work as it is,just leaving the boots and semi empty pack in one vestibule, otherwise you can reduced the size of the inner and make a larger vestibule.

Hard to see in that shot but there is a line loc on the tie out between the inner and the base of the fly .

 

I just thought of this…

Might help to remember that with the TT shelters the fly holds the inner in place not the other way around. That is why you can play with the size of our inners even when the tent is up in place.

Something that can’t be done with the other type, for example that Hubba in the photo above.

[Sam Farrington]

Thank you, Franco.
Just one more niggle. If the floor at the front door is pulled back and secured to create more vestibule room, won’t that loosen up the net inner quite a bit, and make it hard to operate the zipper in the inside net door.
Would appreciate hearing your take on this.

[Franco Darioli]

what do you do when you zip your jacket up ?

[Philip S]

I am interested in purchasing this tent.  Are there any estimates when it will be available to purchase and are there plans for a video to be posted concerning pitching and features of the tent.

[Link .]

. The Bowfin 1 $319 Shipping Feb 2017 .

[Henry Shires / Tarptent]

Sam, there is an interior hook and loop system to hold the floor and door zipper under tension in the pulled back position.

[Sam Farrington]

Thank you, Henry.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Given that I’ve ridden out steady 30 – 40 mph winds in my Moment DW with minimal shaking and virtually no flapping I find it very unusual that it is “the least wind-worthy” of the three Tarptents mentioned.

Disclaimer: I had 4 stakes holding down the fly hem, one stake at each end of the main pole and both end and side tie-outs staked down but no X-ing pole.

Henry, do you mean that winds hitting the Moment sideways deflect the main pole? My main pole (side) guy lines and pole-end stakes must have entirely prevented that when I was in a wind storm.

For my Scarp 2 I have a heavy duty Tentpole Technologies main pole for more strength in winter.

 

 

 

[Franco Darioli]

The set up video is now on the site, includes the bit that Sam was asking about :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY5IJEmO1DA

if you are really quick you get a glimpse of Henry.

[Jonathon Self]

Strut setup is interesting. I’m definitely intrigued, and I have a feeling that I’m going to have to have one of these eventually. I don’t need currently need another shelter, but I admit, I want one.

The Bowfin is an odd combination of features that I enjoy.

[narikki kudinar]

I like this tent! i love all the small improvements they make for each new tent!

would the cross strut at the ends be coming to other tents? say the moment dw etc?

I sometimes had trouble getting those to stay out on my notch at times.

[Philip S]

The video is very good and informative like others on your site. It would be even better showing a person in the tent while displaying the inner tent and removal and use without the inner.

i just returned a rainbow I just purchased which I liked along with other models that interest me but I believe the inner tent and seperate fly are the best overall with more forms of use like fly only.  I certainly like to be able to setup tent and fly at the same time.

i have been watching the site to place the order.  I also have wondered if you would sell a formed tyvek ground cloth for this which would be handy with fly only.

[Matthew / BPL]

It’s not the style of shelter I’m looking for these days but that looks like a very comfortable, livable shelter. Nice job, Henry.

[Theo Diekmann]

Does the Bowfin 1 feature the possibility to provide additional support using trekking poles (in a vertical setup) just like the (Double) Rainbow?

[Franco Darioli]

Narikki,
with the Notch end struts, try grabbing the struts one on each end , pull them towards you spreading them out fully and get the canopy fabric in tension , then having the tips on the ground press the apex down with one hand (so the tips don’t move) and guy out inserting the stake with the other.
(send me a PM if this is not clear)

[Franco Darioli]

We have a photo now posted on the product page showing a 77″x25″ mat inside :

[Richie S]

Did anyone pick up a Bowfin yet? If so any thoughts?

[Ken Thompson]

Bowfin 2 now out

https://www.tarptent.com/whatsnew.html

[Nick L]

I’ve had my Bowfin since it’s first release, and have been very impressed with it. Super easy to setup only needing 2 stakes for use most of the time. I’m now super addicted to being able to have my gear inside the tent so I can really appreciate the wider floor space. I find myself setting up the main pole and ends then moving the tent around to get it situated to the terrain perfectly. This is REALLY nice.

My only complaint is not being able to stuff the tent. It really threw my packing methods off in the beginning, and has taken some serious getting used to. In my ULA pack it’s not a big deal, but in my BD Speed 40 that I use for alpine ascents it just doesn’t seem to quite 100% jive and takes some very creative packing methods.

[Scott M]

Bowfin 1 at 37oz or Copper Spur Platinum at 37oz?

[Richie S]

I did pick up a bowfin in the end and I’m very happy with it. It’s certainly a one person tent, but very roomy in terms of headroom and with the side pullouts. Materials seem far more durable that the BA tents and the ability to be almost free standing is another win.

[Henry Shires / Tarptent]

Bowfin 1 at 37oz or Copper Spur Platinum at 37oz?

 

Keep in mind the materials difference. The Bowfin coated fabrics are 30d, not 20d, and 2.5x (floor) – 4x (fly) higher pressure rating than the Copper Spur fabrics.

 

-H

[Jeffs Eleven]

Anecdotally my wife would always feel safer in a major mfg tent ‘because they dont use UL fabrics’.

I showed her the weights and reminded her of the poles and told her of the fabric denier and she realized that a lot of times the fabrics are actually heavier on TTs.

[Andrew Priest]

I am about to pull the pin on the Tarptent Blowfin 1 but wanted to check if there was any other options worth considering or discounting before I do.

I have considered the Big Sky Revolution 1P but find it frustrating getting proper information on it and well I am just not 100% sure on their products having had an Evolution 1P way back when.

So anything else to consider or should I stop procrastinating? :)

[Author]

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